Leadership Levers

William Gladhart
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

This podcast spotlights leaders' actions so they may enhance their organization’s performance and culture.We feature CEOs and industry-recognized Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who share their experiences and insights on three key challenges: people, performance, and profit.If you are a leader who wants to learn from your peers about improving performance and financial returns, please join us. 

  1. 2d ago

    You Have to Show Up: Toni Beck-Doss on Culture, Accountability & Performance

    What happens when someone doesn't show up - and everyone else has to absorb the impact? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Toni Beck-Doss, CEO of Mobile Genetics DNA and Level Up Financial, shares how early hiring mistakes taught her an important lesson about culture, accountability, and performance.  As an entrepreneur building two businesses, Toni initially gave people opportunities she hoped they would grow into. But when employees repeatedly arrived late or called off, she quickly saw how one person's behavior could ripple across the organization - disrupting clients, pulling her back into day-to-day operations, and affecting business performance. That experience changed how she hires and leads. Toni became more intentional about who she allowed to represent the brand, recognizing that skills alone aren't enough. In a business where employees work directly with clients, trust, reliability, and alignment with the organization's expectations matter.  Toni walks through: Why culture can make or break a business How employee reliability directly impacts clients and performance Why giving someone an opportunity doesn't always make them the right fit How early hiring mistakes changed her approach to building a team Why leaders need to recognize patterns and act when something isn't working The importance of consistency, remaining teachable, and continuing to invest in yourself. For entrepreneurs and leaders building growing organizations, Toni's experience is a reminder that culture isn't simply what you say you value — it's what people consistently demonstrate. And sometimes the first standard is the simplest one: show up. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

  2. Sep 18

    Give People Room to Get It Wrong: Eric Cantu on Building Culture That Scales

    What happens when leaders give people permission to make decisions - even if they get some of them wrong? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Eric Cantu, CEO of Precision AI Workforce, shares how a career spanning rehabilitation, education, entrepreneurship, and AI shaped his approach to building cultures where people feel empowered to perform.  For Eric, leadership isn't about having control over every decision. It's about giving people the resources and clarity they need to succeed - then creating enough trust for them to act, learn, and grow. But empowerment doesn't mean avoiding difficult people decisions. Eric reflects on one of his own leadership challenges: holding onto people too long when the warning signs were already there. That experience changed how he hires, develops, and supports employees - including clearer expectations, intentional mentoring, and more time spent ensuring cultural alignment.  Eric walks through: Why empowered employees need room to make mistakes Why hiring for cultural alignment can be harder than designing process The danger of keeping negative or uncoachable employees too long How mentoring helps reinforce culture as an organization grows Why clear expectations, honest communication, and feedback matter The importance of continuing to invest in yourself as a leader. For leaders building and scaling teams, this conversation is a reminder that a strong culture doesn't eliminate mistakes. It creates an environment where people can make decisions, learn from mistakes, and become better because of them. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

  3. Aug 9

    People Before Profit: Frank Clark on Building High-Performance Cultures That Last

    What happens when a high performer delivers results, but damages the culture around them? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Frank Clark, President and CEO of Encore Leadership Advisors, shares why people - not profit - must remain the top priority for leaders who want sustainable performance.  Drawing on decades of experience in executive search, mergers and acquisitions, and leadership consulting, Frank explains why culture ultimately determines whether organizations thrive or struggle. One of the biggest mistakes leaders make, according to Frank, is allowing top performers to operate outside the cultural standards expected of everyone else. While they may deliver strong numbers, the long-term impact on morale, engagement, and retention can be significant.  Frank walks through:  Why people are the foundation of performance and profitability  The hidden cost of tolerating toxic high performers  How inconsistent standards create cultural drift  The importance of humility, respect, and continuous learning  Why a culture of candor outperforms a culture of politics  His leadership framework of prioritizing people before profits. For leaders seeking sustainable growth, this conversation is a reminder that culture is not a soft skill - it is a business strategy. When leaders invest in people, performance improves, culture strengthens, and profits follow. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

  4. Jun 26

    What Should We Stop Doing? Monisha Longacre on Creating Space for Growth

    What happens when organizations try to do everything at once? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Monisha Longacre, founder of Productivity 101 and a fractional COO, shares why leadership today is less about doing more and more about creating clarity when there is constant change.  Drawing from experience across enterprise organizations, startups, and growing businesses, Monisha explains why culture remains the foundation of both accomplishment and fulfillment - even as new technologies continue to reshape how we work.  As leaders race to adopt AI and accelerate growth, Monisha believes many organizations are creating unnecessary pressure by pursuing too many priorities at once. Monisha walks through:  Why people must remain at the center of organizational change  How leaders unintentionally create anxiety by demanding more, faster  The importance of prioritization, boundaries, and focus  Why employees need to feel supported, motivated, and valued  The overlooked leadership question: "What should we stop doing?"  How creating space often unlocks better performance than adding more work. For leaders navigating growth, technology, and change, this conversation is a reminder: culture isn't built by doing more - it's built by helping people focus on what matters most. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

  5. Apr 30

    The Exit Isn’t the End: Mike Tracy on Purpose, Identity & Life After Selling a Business

    What happens after the deal closes - when the business is no longer yours? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Mike Tracy, founder of Omni HRM, reflects on what comes next after leading and selling a business built over 30+ years. Unlike many founders who treat the exit as a finish line, Mike approached it differently - intentionally designing a multi-year transition to prepare for what came next. But even with planning, the reality of stepping away brought unexpected challenges. Mike shares: Why planning an “off-ramp” before the exit is critical The emotional challenge of watching new owners run your business differently Why relationships and networks don’t turn off after a sale What he missed most and still misses about leading a team How he re-engaged his time through mentoring, boards, and giving back Why purpose, health, and structure matter more than ever post-exit. For owners thinking or approaching a transition, this conversation is a reminder: the exit is not the end of leadership...it’s the beginning of a new chapter that requires just as much intention as building the business itself. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

  6. Apr 10

    Leadership Capacity Under Pressure: Logan Yanovac on Culture, Process & Founder Readiness

    What happens when leadership capacity becomes the limiting factor in growth? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Logan Yanovac, CEO and co-founder of the Founder Readiness Institute, shares how gaps in leadership development — not strategy — are often the root cause of underperformance in both startups and middle-market companies.  Drawing from a career in private equity, venture capital, and impact investing, Logan explains why most organizations fail to measure what matters most: a leader’s ability to manage complexity, pressure, and decision-making over time. As she built her own company, Logan encountered this challenge firsthand — realizing that even with strong networks and a clear vision, missing process and infrastructure can slow growth quickly. Logan walks through: Why leadership capacity — not strategy — often determines business outcomesHow early process gaps, especially in sales and lead generation, create growth constraintsThe importance of building systems before relying on networksWhy founders must recognize and act quickly on operational gapsHow stress and pressure test whether culture is real or theoreticalThe overlooked need for manager coaching — and why it’s a systemic issue across organizations. For leaders building and scaling organizations, this conversation is a reminder: performance challenges rarely start in the numbers — they start in leadership capacity, process discipline, and the ability to operate under pressure. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

  7. Apr 1

    Consistency Drives Performance: Jon Dario on Standards, Execution & Leadership

    What causes performance to break down across an organization — even when you have good people in place? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Jon Dario, founder of Retail Management Formula and CEO of Edison Properties, shares how inconsistent execution across 250+ locations exposed a critical leadership gap: without clear standards, every team creates its own version of success. Drawing from decades of experience in retail and multi-location operations, John explains why culture starts with people — but performance depends on clarity. John walks through: Why people are the foundation, but process determines consistencyHow inconsistent execution creates volatility in results and engagementThe power of defining a clear “pyramid of standards” across the organizationWhy leadership teams must align on priorities before expecting executionHow daily routines reinforce culture and operational disciplineThe mindset shift from blaming people to guiding them toward success. For leaders managing growth, scale, or multi-location teams, this conversation is a reminder: performance doesn’t fail because people don’t care — it fails when leaders don’t define what success looks like. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

  8. Mar 2

    Process Before Profit: Andrew Abraham on Building Culture That Actually Scales

    What happens when you hire great people, but still don’t get great results? In this episode of Leadership Levers, Andrew Abraham, CEO and co-founder of Heybuddy, shares how early hiring mistakes forced him to confront a hard truth: talent doesn’t compensate for missing process. As a young founder building a customer-consciousness platform for CPG and e-commerce brands, Andrew initially believed people were the most critical lever. But after scaling too quickly without operational clarity, he realized something deeper — even star players fail without structure and clear leadership direction.  Andrew walks through: Why process — not people — was the real bottleneck in early growthHow direct accountability starts with the leader, not the teamThe difference between hiring talent and aligning personnel to the missionWhy servant leadership creates cultural gravityHis belief that entrepreneurship is a deeply spiritual journey — and why leaders must listen to their hearts as much as their metrics. For leaders building in high-growth environments, this conversation is a reminder: sustainable performance isn’t built on charisma or hiring velocity — it’s built on clarity, alignment, and systems that allow great people to win. We'd love your feedback on how we can improve - send us a Text!! Seeking to align your culture, boost performance & impact your bottom line? Let’s chat - no sales, just real talk about your challenges.

See All (63)

About

This podcast spotlights leaders' actions so they may enhance their organization’s performance and culture.We feature CEOs and industry-recognized Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who share their experiences and insights on three key challenges: people, performance, and profit.If you are a leader who wants to learn from your peers about improving performance and financial returns, please join us. 

Information

  • Creator
    William Gladhart
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leadership Levers
  • Show Website
    Leadership Levers